Cognitive & brain health
The cognitive-enhancement corner spans Russian research peptides, longevity nootropics, and sleep interventions. A few have meaningful human data; most are preclinical or rest on small, hard-to-replicate studies. Here is the honest evidence, grouped by how it's used.
Nootropic peptides
The peptides marketed for focus, memory, and neuroprotection.
Semax: a real Russian nootropic with an under-tested evidence base
An ACTH(4-10)-derived heptapeptide that raises BDNF and is a registered drug in Russia. The mechanism is credible — but the human evidence is small, single-country, and mostly uncontrolled.
Selank: a non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic peptide, lightly tested
A tuftsin-analog heptapeptide that modulates GABA without being a benzodiazepine — and matched benzodiazepines in small Russian trials. The mechanism is credible; the evidence base is thin.
Dihexa: a striking preclinical nootropic with zero human evidence
An orally-active angiotensin-IV–derived compound famous for building synapses “more potently than BDNF” in the lab. The animal data are real — but there are no human trials, and its c-Met growth-pathway mechanism raises unanswered safety questions.
P21 (P021): a neurogenic peptide with real animal data and no human evidence
Marketed as “P21,” the compound is really P021 — a CNTF-derived peptide that boosts neurogenesis in rodents. There are no human trials, no approval, and a genuinely muddled name. A straight read of where the science stands.
Cerebrolysin: what it is, and what the evidence actually shows
A porcine-brain-derived peptide mixture sold abroad for stroke and dementia — and pitched online as a nootropic. A straight read of the Cochrane reviews and the regulatory reality.
Longevity nootropics & compounds
The non-peptide brain-support compounds in the longevity toolkit.
Alpha-GPC: What the Evidence Actually Shows
A cholinergic precursor with real dementia-trial data, weak ergogenic studies, and an unresolved 2021 stroke-risk signal.
Methylene blue: the longevity 'biohack' that's actually a drug
Low-dose methylene blue has a plausible mitochondrial mechanism and a real single-dose memory signal — but it's an FDA-approved drug, not a supplement, its anti-aging claims are preclinical, and it can cause fatal serotonin syndrome with antidepressants.
Phosphatidylserine: Evidence for Memory, Cortisol, and Cognitive Health
A membrane phospholipid with real biology, older positive cognition data on a form you can no longer buy, and a weaker case for the soy-derived version sold today.
Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica): What the Evidence Actually Shows
Strong for venous insufficiency and topical wound healing; the cognition and longevity claims rest on thin, mixed data.
Lithium orotate: an intriguing population signal, almost no direct evidence
Trace lithium in drinking water tracks with lower suicide and dementia rates — but that's an association, and lithium orotate itself has essentially no controlled human trials.
Sleep, mood & the cognition link
Because sleep and anxiety drive cognition as much as any nootropic does.
How to Increase Deep Sleep: What the Evidence Actually Shows
Deep (slow-wave) sleep is front-loaded into the early night and drives your biggest growth-hormone pulse — here are the levers that actually raise it, and an honest look at where peptides fall short.
Peptides for sleep: what actually has human evidence (and what doesn't)
DSIP, the GH-axis peptides and Selank all get marketed for sleep. Graded against controlled human data, none is an evidence-based sleep therapy — and the proven levers aren't injectable.
Peptides for anxiety: Selank, Semax and DSIP graded by real human evidence
Three peptides dominate the “peptides for anxiety” lists. Only one has meaningful human anxiety data — and none is approved or backed by large Western trials. A straight read.